Digital fingerprint generation using sensor embedded packaging elements

Abstract

A method for detecting package tampering, comprising performing scanning of a container comprising a packaged item and a plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item, wherein each of the plurality of packaging elements comprises a sensing component comprising a stress sensor, determining a stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the scanning, and generating an output indicating the stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for detecting package tampering, comprising:
 performing first scanning of a container comprising a packaged item and a plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item;
 wherein the plurality of packaging elements are integrated on a base material wrapped around the packaged item; 
 wherein each packaging element of the plurality of packaging elements is a cushioning element comprising a sensing component comprising a stress sensor; 
 wherein each stress sensor measures a stress value on a corresponding packaging element in one or more directions; and 
 wherein each sensing component wirelessly transmits one or more of the measured stress values to one or more scanning devices; 
 
 determining at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the first scanning; 
 performing second scanning of the container comprising the packaged item and the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item; 
 determining at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the second scanning; and 
 comparing the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the first scanning with the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the second scanning; 
 wherein the method is performed by at least one computer system comprising at least one memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first scanning and the second scanning are performed when the container is closed. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the first scanning and from the second scanning comprises at least one of a compressive stress and a tensile stress. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the compressive stress and the tensile stress are measured in more than one direction. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each sensing component is configured to wirelessly transmit the one or more of the measured stress values during the first scanning and during the second scanning. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each sensing component is configured to wirelessly transmit identification information to identify itself. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising generating a first output indicating the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the first scanning. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising generating a second output indicating the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the second scanning. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the comparing comprises comparing the first output with the second output. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising concluding whether the package tampering occurred based on a result of the comparing. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining a difference between the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements in the container from the first scanning and the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements in the container from the second scanning. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising comparing the difference to a threshold value to determine whether the package tampering occurred. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first scanning is performed at a first site and the second scanning is performed at a second site. 
     
     
       14. A system for detecting package tampering, comprising:
 a first memory and at least one first processor coupled to the first memory, wherein the at least one first processor is configured to:
 scan at a first site a container comprising a packaged item and a plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item;
 wherein the plurality of packaging elements are integrated on a base material wrapped around the packaged item; 
 wherein each packaging element of the plurality of packaging elements is a cushioning element comprising a sensing component comprising a stress sensor 
 wherein each stress sensor measures a stress value on a corresponding packaging element in one or more directions; and 
 wherein each sensing component wirelessly transmits one or more of the measured stress values to one or more scanning devices; and 
 
 determine at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the scanning at the first site; and 
 
 a second memory and at least one second processor coupled to the second memory, wherein the at least one second processor is configured to:
 scan at a second site the container comprising the packaged item and the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item; 
 determine at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the scanning at the second site; and 
 compare the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the scanning at the first site with the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the scanning at the second site. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the scanning at the first site and the scanning at the second site are performed when the container is closed. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one first processor is further configured to generate a first output indicating the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the scanning at the first site. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one second processor is further configured to generate a second output indicating the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the scanning at the second site. 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 17 , wherein in comparing the at least one second processor is further configured to compare the first output with the second output. 
     
     
       19. The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one second processor is further configured to conclude whether the package tampering occurred based on a result of the comparing. 
     
     
       20. A computer program product for detecting package tampering, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 performing first scanning of a container comprising a packaged item and a plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item;
 wherein the plurality of packaging elements are integrated on a base material wrapped around the packaged item; 
 wherein each packaging element of the plurality of packaging elements is a cushioning element comprising a sensing component comprising a stress sensor; 
 wherein each stress sensor measures a stress value on a corresponding packaging element in one or more directions; and 
 wherein each sensing component wirelessly transmits one or more of the measured stress values to one or more scanning devices; 
 
 determining at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the first scanning; 
 performing second scanning of the container comprising the packaged item and the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item; 
 determining at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the second scanning; and 
 comparing the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the first scanning with the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the second scanning. 
 
     
     
       21. A method for detecting package tampering, comprising:
 performing scanning of a container comprising a packaged item and a plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item;
 wherein the plurality of packaging elements are integrated on a base material wrapped around the packaged item; 
 wherein each packaging element of the plurality of packaging elements is a cushioning element comprising a sensing component comprising a stress sensor; 
 wherein each stress sensor measures a stress value on a corresponding packaging element in one or more directions; and 
 wherein each sensing component wirelessly transmits one or more of the measured stress values to one or more scanning devices; 
 
 determining at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the scanning; and 
 generating an output indicating the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item; 
 wherein the method is performed by at least one computer system comprising at least one memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. 
 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising storing the output indicating the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements in a database. 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 performing an additional scanning of the container comprising the packaged item and the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item; 
 determining at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the additional scanning; 
 generating an additional output indicating the at least one stress on each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item from the additional scanning; 
 retrieving the stored output from the database; and 
 comparing the stored output with the additional output to determine whether there are any differences between the stored output and additional output. 
 
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising concluding whether the package tampering occurred based on a result of the comparing. 
     
     
       25. A method for detecting package tampering, comprising:
 receiving a signal from each of a plurality of packaging elements surrounding a packaged item in a container;
 wherein the plurality of packaging elements are integrated on a base material wrapped around the packaged item; 
 wherein each packaging element of the plurality of packaging elements is a cushioning element comprising a sensing component comprising a stress sensor; and 
 wherein each signal comprises a measured value of stress on a corresponding packaging element of the plurality of packaging elements transmitted from the sensing component of the corresponding packaging element to one or more scanning devices; and 
 
 generating an output of the measured stress values corresponding to each of the plurality of packaging elements surrounding the packaged item; 
 wherein the measured stress values correspond to one or more directions; and 
 wherein the method is performed by at least one computer system comprising at least one memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory.